What we discovered at CTIA

Last updated: 11 April 2014

The hustle and bustle of CTIA 2013 has come to an end. But don’t despair, there is still much to talk about and we are not adhering to the popular phrase of what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. This year at CTIA, wireless wasn’t the only star; there were also Jennifer Lopez and Ashton Kutcher.

I attended the Ashton Kutcher keynote, and was pleasantly surprised by his knowledge of the wireless business. His understanding goes beyond just a Q&A; he has been investing in successful technology companies like Path, AirBnB, and Spotify. What I found interesting was his take on M2M or the “internet of things” and combining it with social media. What if your coffee machine could send you a tweet when your coffee is ready? I think Ashton Kutcher tapped into an interesting message for M2M, which is making it relevant to our everyday lives. The connected lifestyle is becoming a reality and adding social media brings a more accessible and dynamic approach to the growing trend in M2M developments.

While roaming the CTIA floor I stumbled upon booths that used the mobile phone to translate languages, have your peer’s opinions shared on social media, and our own mobile solutions: NFC, the mobile wallet, and mobile health applications. What this led me to realize, however, is just how viable it is that your mobile phone and wireless technology using NFC can replace your keys, boarding pass, and your wallet. With a growing connected society, the mobile device is evolving into much more than a way of communication. I look forward to seeing what mobile solutions take shape in the years to come.